‘What I Like About You’ is a binge-worthy early 2000s hidden gem

If you’re frantically searching for the next serotonin-boosting show to lift your exhausted, fragile spirits, What I Like About You — a vastly underrated sitcom that aired on the WB nearly two decades ago — is finally available to stream.

Picture this: It’s 2002. All your present-day worries are temporarily suspended as you’re mentally transported to a simpler time — one where people frequented Blockbuster, flared jeans and Ugg boots were fashion staples, Maroon 5’s Songs About Jane was just released, and the sound of laugh tracks didn’t make you cringe.

In this distant yet refreshingly familiar world, a teenage Amanda Bynes plays Holly Tyler, an exuberant 16-year-old who’s dealing with a major life crisis. Holly’s dad just got a new job in Japan and he expects her to uproot her life to relocate with him. (The audacity!) While he flies out to get settled, Holly heads to New York City for a week to crash with her high-strung 28-year-old sister, Valerie (Jennie Garth). In hopes of making the temporary living situation permanent, Holly tries to convince Val that she’d be a perfect roommate, but instead proves to be a massive, albeit lovable, intrusion.

Image: Wb-Tv / Kobal / Shutterstock

Val and Holly may be sisters, but if it weren’t for the shared last name you’d have a hard time believing they’re related. Val is a quiet perfectionist who thrives amidst organization and order. She rarely cuts loose, and the sheer thought of breaking the rules could make her break out in hives. Holly, on the other hand, likes to have fun. She’s an outgoing, clumsy, accident-prone chaos magnet who constantly finds herself in precarious positions. Essentially, she’s the anti-Val, so it makes sense that the two sisters struggle to co-exist. Their opposing personalities serve as a constant source of tension throughout the series, but Holly and Val ultimately balance each other out. As they navigate careers, romantic relationships, friendships, heartbreak, and major milestones over the course of four seasons, you’ll find their chemistry and unique dynamic impossible to resist.

Though the ladies are more than capable of commanding the screen on their own, Season 1 also introduces a charming BFF, Gary (Wesley Jonathan), and a restaurant-owning boyfriend, Jeff (Simon Rex). As the series progresses, new noteworthy characters — including Henry (Michael McMillan), Vince (Nick Zano), Lauren (Leslie Grossman), and Tina (Allison Munn) — enter the Tyler girls’ lives, too, and get caught up in the seemingly endless string of hijinks almost immediately.

What I like about it

As someone who adored What I Like About You when it was on the air and spent years watching reruns on Freeform and Nickelodeon, I’m not afraid to say I got emotional upon learning that all 86 episodes started streaming on HBO Max in January 2021. The news is huge for early fans looking to reacquaint themselves with the show, but it’s also great for a new audience — anyone in the mood for a gentle, low-stakes, comfort binge.

Bynes appears effortlessly authentic, like she was born to play the zestful Holly Tyler.

There’s a lot to like, and love, about What I Like About You, but the heaping dose of soul-soothing nostalgia the sitcom delivers is one of its best present-day draws. The series is like a digital time capsule filled with music, pop culture references, technology, fashion trends, and familiar faces from decades past. You’ll recognize a bunch of famous cameos including Tony Hawk, Megan Fox, Penn Badgely, Jenna Fischer, and Jesse McCartney. And if you’re a 90210 fan, brace yourself, because you’ll see Jennie Garth reunite with Ian Ziering, Luke Perry, and Jason Priestley, as well.

What I Like About You clearly has its fair share of star power, but no one shines brighter than Bynes, who was fresh off The Amanda Show and Big Fat Liar when the pilot aired in 2002. From the first scene where Holly plops herself down in her dad’s suitcase to protest moving (then dramatically tumbles out of it) Bynes captivates. Her endearing, signature style of humor radiates off the screen and repeatedly forces a smile on your face. Bynes appears effortlessly authentic, like she was born to play the zestful Holly Tyler, and watching her confidently carry the character while flawlessly ricocheting between silly and serious will remind you of her incredible talent and range. 

If you’ve ever considered yourself a fan of Amanda Bynes, What I Like About You is essential viewing.

Image: Wb-Tv / Kobal / Shutterstock

Aside from a series of ridiculously implausible scenarios that would only happen on television, there’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about What I Like About You’s storyline. But that’s what makes the show so remarkable. It’s a classic sitcom about family, friends, and dating that checks all the desired boxes. It has gorgeous apartments filled with exposed brick and PB Teen-style decor that will leave you envious. It has cozy restaurants and bakeries that make for perfect group meeting spots. And it has sexual tension, crushes, and love triangles galore.

Like many shows from 2002, the series hasn’t aged perfectly, but the majority still holds up today. As is the case with other old shows that have been adapted for streaming (looking at you, Dawson’s Creek) the original What I Like About You theme song — a lively Lillix cover of The Romantics jam, “What I Like About You” — has also been replaced with a tune that’s far less fitting. Thankfully, you can still see the original Season 1 and later season openings online.

If you’re a fan of women-led comedies like Gilmore Girls, sibling shows like Sister, Sister and the short-lived Mary-Kate and Ashley sitcom So Little Time, or series that follow roommates and friend groups like New Girl or Friends, watching What I Like About You should be a no brainer. If you unironically watched the Teen Choice Awards in your youth, you owe it to yourself to binge this show as an adult. And if you frequently scour streaming platforms in search of a gentle, feel-good hidden gems, the series deserves the top spot on your “To Watch” list.

I never thought at age 27 I’d be devouring — let alone taking comfort in — a TV show I started watching when I was nine years old, but here I am. I flew through all four seasons in less than four days (in my defense, each episode is only a breezy 20 minutes) and I delighted in the years of joyful memories and beloved characters that came flooding back to me. The show is a reminder that no matter how carefully you plan your life, things can, and in all likelihood will get thrown off course. It’s a reminder to stay strong and go with the flow, and I can’t think of a better time to internalize that message. 

What I Like About You is streaming on HBO Max.